Nintendo May Hold a Surprise Direct Before September Showcase

Nintendo may have just finished its big summer showcase, but rumors are already swirling that the next Nintendo Direct might be just around the corner. Rather than the usual general Direct that has become a staple every September, fans will be looking towards a game-focused presentation for one of the company's next projects.

Just a few weeks ago, Nintendo had its big June Direct, but the way the company has been presenting things recently means fans shouldn't expect the next one to be months away. In the past year, Nintendo has leaned more heavily on smaller, game-specific broadcasts to keep interest alive between its main displays.

That move has led to a busy calendar of presentations, from new hardware and first-party games to movie ventures and partner announcements.

Nintendo has moved beyond seasonal Directs and has established a consistent cadence of announcements, often with little warning. This pattern is evident with a review of the past year. After a massive general Direct, Nintendo was quick to follow with its Nintendo Switch 2 presentation. Not long after, it had dedicated broadcasts for Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bonanza, Pokémon Presents, Kirby Air Riders, Tomodachi Life, Star Fox, Splatoon Raiders, and even a couple of Mario Galaxy Movie presentations.

Nintendo has shown it is comfortable with many presentations in a single month, so it wouldn't be surprising to see another surprise broadcast soon enough. One thing is evident from the company’s recent communication strategy: Nintendo has stopped depending solely on quarterly or seasonal Directs. Instead, it seems ready to shine a focus on individual games when extra marketing mojo is required.

Now, this is where it becomes really fascinating, if you look at Nintendo's release schedule for the next few months. Splatoon Raiders has just launched, and there’s not much more on Nintendo's calendar for the rest of July. August is pretty much dead, and the next big first-party release, Fire Emblem Fortune Wave, isn’t until September 17.

Such a long gap creates obvious questions. Nintendo has typically liked a regular stream of announcements and game reveals, so this calm period feels a bit strange. That's led to talk that Nintendo could yet have another unannounced game up its sleeve for 2026, similar to the way it stunned fans earlier this year with Star Fox. Looking at history, a dedicated Direct might be used not only to disclose a new game but also to announce a rather short release schedule.

One name that keeps coming up is Metroid: Samus Returns.

There have been rumors about Metroid: Ravenous lately, since it was reported that Nintendo of America filed a game for rating through Brazil's government rating system. That alone doesn't necessarily mean an impending reveal is on the way, but it does signal production could be heading towards a release. Some fans speculate that Nintendo may announce the game during a special Metroid Direct presentation this August to celebrate Metroid's 40th anniversary.

Such an event would mark the franchise's milestone and also fill Nintendo's normally dull August release schedule. There’s no assurance this will happen, but the timing has sparked a lot of conversation. If Metroid: Dread doesn't get announced, Nintendo has shown it’s not afraid to drop big games on us with very little warning, so other surprise announcements are just as possible. Another potential option for a solo presentation is The DuskBloods, FromSoftware's next Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.

The DuskBloods is still one of Nintendo's biggest forthcoming releases, despite remarkably little information being revealed since its first reveal. The game is created by the company behind Elden Ring and other well-received games. The game was first shown in Nintendo’s huge Switch 2 announcement a year ago, but fans have seen little news since. Its last outing consisted of little fresh footage and confirmation of a scheduled network test this summer.

Summer is already in full swing, and many think Nintendo might be about to provide more information about that test. A full-blown Direct might dig into gameplay systems, show off fresh video, disclose the network test schedule, and maybe even confirm the game’s release date for good. With no major Nintendo releases scheduled for August, this would also serve to keep players engaged throughout the month. But there is another side to the story.

Nintendo has a history of conducting these game-focused Directs just weeks before launch.

Star Fox was presented about six weeks before launch, while Splatoon Raiders was presented less than a month before release. If Nintendo follows a similar pattern, another title might actually be the better candidate. Fire Emblem: Fortune Wave probably looks like the best candidate for its own Direct among the alternatives.

The strategy RPG, which launches September 17, is Nintendo’s next big first-party release and one of its most expensive premium products to date. A special presentation would allow Nintendo to discuss gameplay mechanics, story details, characters, and new features that haven’t received much attention so far.

The corporation has used this method before. Mario Kart World, which has appeared in a handful of Treehouse demos and live events, earned its own solo Direct shortly after Nintendo’s broader Switch 2 expo. Nintendo’s previous marketing strategy would be a near-perfect fit for a similar push for Fire Emblem Fortune Wave. It’s the perfect time for a broadcast, considering it was released in August. Another interesting potential would be a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

With key industry events coming up, some sources have suggested Nintendo may reveal the game closer to its projected November launch. Gamescom kicks off in late August, with PAX and the Tokyo Game Show just behind that. Alternatively, Nintendo might have a dedicated presentation to formally showcase gameplay footage before the public gets its hands on samples.

However, a new leak has just surfaced, suggesting the game may not drop until September.

The leaker has been right on a few Nintendo announcements in the past, including Star Fox and the Ocarina of Time remake itself, but his timing wasn't always right. That's part of why so many observers are still hesitant to treat September as a sure thing. Nintendo has changed marketing plans in the past, and if Ocarina of Time really is one of the major projects this year, then a little early revelation of more info wouldn't be unusual. But no matter which game gets the spotlight, Nintendo's release schedule has room for another surprise announcement.

As for the rest of 2026, there are only a handful of confirmed first-party titles, which is a far cry from past years. For many fans, the lighter schedule indicates that Nintendo is purposely holding something back. If The DuskBloods does slide into early 2027, as some now fear with the absence of a previously reinforced release timetable, the business would have even more reason to have another product out for this holiday season.

It may be Metroid: Dread, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Wave, The Dusk Bloods, Zelda, or something totally unknown. Whatever it is, Nintendo’s previous history suggests fans shouldn’t be shocked if another special Direct drops long before the anticipated September showcase.